Welcome to May! Happy Cinco de Mayo! Contributing writer Chris Barry‘s article “Top Five Lump-in-Your-Throat Moments at Walt Disney World” (February 26,2009) prompted many of our readers to write in with their own Top Five lists. This week’s mailbag presents a sampling of those letters, with responses from Chris.
Dan C. writes:
I was just writing a blog about my own recent Disney trip, and I said almost the exact same thing about my traditional first day stop (in my case, Animal Kingdom) feeling like a long-awaited “Welcome Home.” It’s funny how certain feelings are universal.
In honor of your Top Five Lump-in-the-Throat Moments, here are mine:
5. The orange groves on Soarin’. Much like you, I love Epcot, and for some reason I always get choked up a little when Soarin’ kicks into that next gear.
4. The Peter Pan sequence on Mickey’s Philharmagic. Seems like we have a lot in common, as Peter Pan is also my favorite Disney film. There’s nothing like taking that swing around the clock tower. Completely breathtaking.
3. The Great Movie Ride. For me this one is total nostalgia. I definitely think the quality of the performers has declined greatly since my first visit sixteen years ago, but when I was a kid, I always thought that would be the coolest job at the park. Nothing makes me feel more like I did that first time at Disney than this ride.
2. The Opening Welcome at Magic Kingdom. I totally agree with you. I was at Walt Disney World for my entire birthday weekend two weeks ago. I made it a point to celebrate the actual day at Magic Kingdom. It was the right choice. When that steam stack appears in the foliage off to the right and you see the train comin’ round the bend… Your heart starts beating a little quicker. You see the kids get excited to see Mickey (maybe for the first time) and I’m getting misty writing about it right now.
1. Going through the gates onto Disney property. I know it’s sort of a non-event sometimes, but I have pictures from nearly every time I’ve passed through the gates for the first time on a trip. I cry every time.
Thanks for reading and taking the time to respond. Disney certainly does seem to affect many of us in similar ways.
Soarin’ is definitely on my short list as is that Peter Pan moment in Philharmagic. I was so glad they included Peter and Tink in that attraction. I feel the same way when I drive through the gates. It’s always good to arrive “home.”
Alex writes:
I agree that the Illuminations show is certainly in my top five. But… my all time favorite top five moment was watching the Tapestry of Nations parade during the Millennium celebration. I went every night for five nights and never failed to choke up. I really wish they would bring it back!
As circumstance would have it, I never got to see the Tapestry of Nations parade. You’re not alone in your sentiments. I wish it would come back too.
David J. writes:
There is nothing to debate about any of your top five. I have the same reaction to most of those, with the exception of the Opening ceremony, which at 25 years old I have never experienced. My own top five include:
5. Tinker Bell’s flight during Wishes
4. The Blue Fairy asking us all to make a wish, during Wishes.
3. The torches relighting during Illuminations, realizing we will go on!
2. The American Adventure, particularly the film into the last scene.
1. Mickey appearing at the top of the mountain at the end of Fantasmic, and hearing the crowd cheer because once again Mickey won in his battle over evil (I sob).I actually got a little verklempt reading it remembering my own. I think we all have those moments that tug at our heart strings and make us cry like babies and in some way we remember it IS a small world after all, and we’re more alike than we think we are.
You need to get yourself to the opening ceremony one day; you’ll love it. Good job pointing out The Blue Fairy. That’s one of my favorite moments as well. It’s the small details isn’t it?
Pam writes:
Wow! I loved this article! My Top Five include:
5. Driving under the purple arches and signs upon arriving. (This past time we took Magical Express for the first time and to be on a bus with a group of small children who burst into cheers and applause nearly sent me over the edge).
4. Tinker Bell flying down from the castle. Absolutely. Wishes is such a beautiful show – from anywhere you watch it. Main Street, the balcony of a hotel, a boat. But being right in front of the castle and watching Tink fly takes your breath away.
3. Illuminations – but specifically – the moment the globe appears and the music accompanying it. That was my favorite moment until I heard Let There Be Peace on Earth at the end this past December.
2. Watching my daughter’s face during anything she enjoys. This past year it was seeing the princesses in the parade and the tools pop out from Handy Manny during the Playhouse Disney Live show.
1. Listening to the children singing on the music that accompanies Spectromagic as we watch the parade go by.
Then I got to thinking about two specific Magical Moments that still make me choke up when I think of them. They will probably never happen again but the memory is irreplaceable:
When Tinker Bell flew down from the castle the first time my daughter saw it; she was only 18 months old and pointed and yelled “Tink!” My same sweet daughter, now three, insisted on riding Dumbo again instead of watching the fireworks this past December. I’ll admit I was less than enthused, but we arrived at Dumbo, and she and my husband got in line while I found a spot near the ride to wait for the fireworks. Just as they were getting ready to “take flight” the fireworks began. I thought “No way. Nothing is timed this well.”
Sure enough, I watched my husband and daughter laugh and point and scream in delight as the ride went round and round in the sky, just under the fireworks. And if you’ve ever watched the fireworks from Fantasyland, you can imagine the scene: there are fireworks all around you.
Such a special moment and even just being an observer it was probably my favorite all time Disney moment to date. My husband will tell you it is something that chokes him up when he thinks about it still. A beautiful moment between a father and daughter that will probably be a “once in a lifetime.” Thanks for letting me share.
That’s it. I’m heading straight for Dumbo the next time I’m looking for a spot to watch Wishes! What a wonderful moment you had. I love when a great magical moment like that, happens by surprise. It makes it all the more memorable.
Also, Spectromagic was a serious contender for my Top Five. It was on hiatus during my last trip, and I missed it tremendously. Can’t wait to see it again.
Jim R. writes:
I am very blessed and admit it. I was an employee at Walt Disney World from 1976 – 1983, which I feel was the true magical era for Walt Disney World. I have been extremely lucky to witness and be a part of many Disney special events. Then, after five years away, I came back to Walt Disney World as a contractor in Entertainment where I was the number one call DJ for Disney from 1988 – 2001.
I have had many, many incredible moments. Some of the moments I was too busy “entertaining” to be choked up, others of these moments even brought tears. Here are some of the top ones in no particular order:
– Magic Kingdom – Tencennial celebration – October 1, 1981 in front of Cinderella castle: Everything was in blue, silver and white. Kids of the Kingdom were singing, and all of the characters were on stage with Mickey in the center. There was a live band, with twenty extended-length trumpeters standing on various balconies and edges of Cinderella castle. Fireworks ended the day, with hundreds of doves released. I still get choked up thinking about that one.
– Opening ceremony of Epcot. October 1, 1982: I worked for Walt Disney Imagineering at the time (then simply called WED) and several of the World Showcase pavilions we had worked all night that week to get working for opening day. We were exhausted, but we had done it. The pavilions that were supposed to be open were. Dove releases, jet fly-by, and daytime fireworks made it all worth it. There were tears for that one also.
– Pleasure Island opening May 1, 1989: I DJ’ed the press event for the Pleasure Island grand opening at the top of the catwalks. I was too busy to get choked up, but it was clearly amazing. On September 27, 2008 many of us gathered at the same place and celebrated the closing. I have a recording of the very end of the last New Year’s celebration; it was big. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L60xm7QsT6I I was choked up then.
– Little Mermaid Walt Disney Animation Party- November 1989 at the Contemporary Hotel Convention Center: Another DJ event where I DJ’ed the “wrap party” for Walt Disney animation and the press event for Little Mermaid. At the wrap party, Samuel Wright came up on stage and gave me a tape to play and had me give him my microphone. At the time, I had no idea who he was or what he was singing, since the movie wasn’t out in official release. He was the voice of Sebastian and he sang Under the Sea. Only after I saw the movie did I realize how big that was.
– December 31, 1999 at Epcot Center: I DJ’ed at the Italy Pavilion for the coming of the year 2000. They turned the entire pavilion into a giant outdoor nightclub. It truly was surreal. I had bodies as far as the eye could see in front of me shoulder to shoulder (more than 10,000+) with the most incredible sound system, light and laser show. The crowd had an intensity like I knew I would never experience again, anticipating the year 2000. I stopped DJing at 17 min before and announced everyone to go see the show and I would see them again next millennium. There was a special illumination that night and they timed the finally to happen exactly at midnight was the biggest fireworks display at I had ever seen, still unmatched to this date. After it was over it seemed like everyone in Epcot came to Italy to celebrate. I will never forget getting on the mike and getting the crowd to make noise to celebrate making it to the year 2000 and it sounded like I had just scored a touchdown at the Superbowl.
Here are five things that everyone can still experience:
– Every Wishes show – Standing at the end of Main Street looking at the castle.
– Mickey’s Christmas Carol live show – I HAVE to see it every year.
– Candlelight processional – how can a 100 person choir and full orchestra singing not move you?
– American Adventure – Even though I did some programming of the original show there, the end film sequence and the sound in the theater gets me choked up every time.
– The Great Movie Ride – They take all the emotional endings in every classic film and put it into one big heartstring-puller. If you ever got choked up at any movie, you get choked up with that one also.
So great to have so many specific memories from someone so close to the magic. Thanks for sharing and yes, you have been blessed. Good for you!
This past holiday season, I was wandering through World Showcase and happen to come upon the actual Candlelight Processional as they walked through the promenade heading for the theater. I’ve never sat in the actual theater. I’ve watched from afar before. This was the first time I saw them all quietly making their way there with their candles. It was very solemn and very special.
Thanks for the great memories, Jim.
